Device for securing reels to fishing rods



Nov. 8, 1949 H. A. LIBERTY DEVICE FOR SECURING REELS TO FISHING RODS Filed Dec. l5, 1948 F'IG. 2.

l5 9 la HENRY A.. LIBE RTV ATTOR N EY Patented Nov. 8, 1.949

UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE DEVICE FOR SECRING REELS T0 FISHING RODS Henry A. Liberty, Thermopolis, Wyo.

Application December 15, 1948, Serial No. 65,347

2 Claims. I (Cl. @I3- 22) My invention relates to a device for securing reels to fishing rods.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device ofthe above mentioned class, which is highly simplied and cheap to manufacture, yet capable of firmly holding the reel upon the rod so that it will not be accidentally separated from the rod during use.

A further object is to provide a device of theabove mentioned class which employs no levers or catches, and which embodies a minimum number of parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In'the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a conventional casting rod having a reel secured thereto by a device embodying my invention,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary central vertical section through the rod shown in Figure 1, parts omitted,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1 showing the device embodying the invention applied to a conventional fly rod,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary central vertical section, similar to Figure 2, and showing a modified form of sleeve and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device as illustrated by Figure 2, and showing a connection between a spring and sleeve.

In thel drawings, where for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of the invention, attention is directed first to Figures 1 to 3, wherein the numeral 6 designates the steel shaft or rod portion of a conventional casting rod. The casting rod also has the usual handle 'I at its rear end, and an intermediate cylindrical tubular supporting member or sleeve 8 between the rod portion and handle, and secured to the rod, portion and handle by conventional means. A conventional line reel 9 is detachably mounted upon the sleeve 8, and the means to detachably mount the reel upon the rodconstitute the invention.

The sleeve B is provided at its forward end with an external annular fixed ring I0, having a radially offset portion II forming a pocket I2 between the ring and sleeve, as shown. At its opposite end the sleeve 8 has an annular rolled 2 .bead I3, which is clinched over the rear end turn I3 of an eXpansible coil spring I4, mounted upon and surrounding the rear portion of the sleeve. The spring I4 is otherwise free upon the sleeve 8 and has a somewhat larger diameter than the sleeve, providing sufficient annular clearance between the sleeve and spring to snugly 'receive the rear foot I5 of a reel base plate I6.

The forward foot I'I of the base plate I6 engages in the pocket I2, and both of the feet I5 and I1 are transversely curved to conform to the curvatu're of the outside diameter of the sleeve 3. When the rear foot I5 enters between the spring Ill and sleeve, the spring will assume a somewhat eccentric position with respect to the sleeve, Figure 3, as it snugly engages the foot I5. The central portion of the reel base plate I6 is upwardly offset, forming upstanding ends or shoulders I8, as shown. The free forward end coil IB of spring I4 engages the rear shoulder I8, and forces the reel 9 forwardly on the rod, so that the forward foot I'I is urged into the pocket I2. The spring I4 is readily retractible by hand for changing or removing the reel from the rod, and it serves to rmly attach the reel to the rod. It is readily seen that there is little likelihood of the reel being accidentally displaced once it is in place, with the foot I5 beneath the coils of the spring.-

In Figure 4 I have shown the reel 9 mounted upon a conventional fly rod, such rod having a bamboo shaft or rod portion 20, a handle 2| arranged rearwardly of the rod portion, and a sleeve 22 secured to the rear end of the handle in any conventional manner. The sleeve 22 is identical with the sleeve 8 except that it is turned in the opposite direction, with the bead I3 forwardly. All other parts shown in Figure 4 are identical to those shown and described in the first form of the invention, Figures 1 to 3, and function in an identical manner.

In Figure 5 I have Shown a slight modification of the invention illustrated inFigures 1 to 3. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 5 I contemplate using a sleeve 8' in place of the sleeve- 8, and the sleeve 8 is provided with an annular radially extending flange or stop.23, at its end adjacent to the handlel. In this form of the invention, the spring I4 is mounted upon the sleeve 8' and is free from attachment to the flange v23. Before -the reel is applied to the fishing rod, the spring I4 is free to move axially upon the sleeve 8 between the stop 23 and offset portion II, but cannot become detached from the sleeve 8' and lost. A11 other parts of the invention are identical to those shown and described in the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing.

It is to be understood that the forms of my invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for detachably securing to a shing rod a reel including a base plate having feet and an outer engaging part, said device comprising a supporting member provided with an exterior pocket for receiving one foot, a coil spring having turns biased open and adapted to be compressed and mounted upon the exterior of the supporting member and having a sufficiently larger diameter than the adjacent portion of the supporting member to provide a passage between it and the supporting member for receiving the other foot, one end of the spring bearing against the engaging part, the passage being free from obstructions so that the second named foot may slide in the passage to compress the spring for removing the rst named foot from the pocket, and means carried by the supporting member and engaging the opposite end of the spring to hold such opposite end against longitudinal movement in one direction and the spring against bodily shifting movement in the same direction.

2. A device for detachably securing to a iishing rod a reel including a base plate having feet and an outer shoulder, said device comprising a sleeve provided near one end with an exterior pocket to receive one foot and having its opposite end rolled into a substantially annular exterior hollow bead, and a coil spring having turns biased open and adapted to be compressed and mounted upon the exterior of the sleeve and having a suiciently larger diameter than the adjacent portion of the sleeve to provide a passage between it and the adjacent portion of the sleeve for receiving the other foot, one end of the spring bearing against the shoulder, the passage being free from obstructions so that the second named foot may slide in the passage to compress the spring for removing the first named foot from the pocket, the turn of the spring at the opposite end of the spring being held within the hollow rolled bead so that the opposite end of the spring is held against longitudinal movement.

HENRY A. LIBERTY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

